⏩ We're slowly breaking through the wall of stagnation

Making it easier to build in America is an important step forward (with more needed)

While some parts of my pro-progress, Up Wing agenda seem stalled (science funding), or even reversing (trade and immigration), others are clearly advancing. Perhaps the most headway is being made when it comes to regulatory reform. There’s growing recognition across the Left-Right political spectrum that various permitting rules have made it far too difficult — in terms of both time and money — to build in this country. That, whether it’s subway stops, transmission lines, or nuclear reactors.

This recognition is slowly leading to legislative action. Case in point: Senators Joe Manchin and John Barrasso have reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill to accelerate energy and infrastructure projects by reforming the permitting process. Key features include streamlining power line construction, setting deadlines for gas export project decisions, easing extraction on public lands, expanding offshore drilling opportunities, and limiting legal challenges to project approvals.